Dear Parishioners,
What is the real story of the three servants in today’s Gospel (Matthew 25:14-30) and the story of our own lives? We are called to “take risk” with the gifts entrusted to us by God. We are expected to wisely invest our gifts from God of time, talent and treasure. Don’t bury your gifts… invest them in others. That is the only way to gain “interest” for the Kingdom of God, and the life of the world to come.
- Deacon Robert
Rev. Stephen Hook is Pastor of the Pastorate of the Visitation which includes the Catholic Churches of Pasadena, Maryland: St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Riviera Beach) and Our Lady of the Chesapeake (Lakeshore). He is assisted by Associate Pastor Rev. John Belinki, Deacon Howard Klohr, and Deacon Rick Clemens. To learn more about our pastorate, please visit www.catholicpasadena.org.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Planning a Catholic Funeral
Dear Parishioners,
This past week we remembered and prayed for the dead. This month, we will continue to offer Masses for our deceased relatives and friends who might be in purgatory. This is an opportune time to think about our own funeral arrangements and not burden our loved ones with decisions and problems after we are gone.
A Catholic funeral consists of three parts: a wake service at the funeral home, a Mass of Christian burial in church, and prayers at the cemetery or mausoleum. The most important part is Mass, for the fruits of the Mass are infinitely more pleasing to God and effective in relieving any remaining temporal punishment due to sin. That is, [celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Mass] will help the deceased get out of purgatory much more quickly than a prayer service at a funeral home. Unfortunately, more and more often, the surviving family members are opting for a service at a funeral home; it’s quicker and easier. So if you want a full Catholic funeral, it would be wise to make specific arrangements well in advance.
Today the Catholic Church allows for cremation of the body, but prefers the cremation to take place after the funeral Mass in church. It also has some specific instructions on the disposition of the cremains afterwards. The U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship says the following:
- Fr. Carl
This past week we remembered and prayed for the dead. This month, we will continue to offer Masses for our deceased relatives and friends who might be in purgatory. This is an opportune time to think about our own funeral arrangements and not burden our loved ones with decisions and problems after we are gone.
A Catholic funeral consists of three parts: a wake service at the funeral home, a Mass of Christian burial in church, and prayers at the cemetery or mausoleum. The most important part is Mass, for the fruits of the Mass are infinitely more pleasing to God and effective in relieving any remaining temporal punishment due to sin. That is, [celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Mass] will help the deceased get out of purgatory much more quickly than a prayer service at a funeral home. Unfortunately, more and more often, the surviving family members are opting for a service at a funeral home; it’s quicker and easier. So if you want a full Catholic funeral, it would be wise to make specific arrangements well in advance.
Today the Catholic Church allows for cremation of the body, but prefers the cremation to take place after the funeral Mass in church. It also has some specific instructions on the disposition of the cremains afterwards. The U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship says the following:
“Any catechesis on the subject of cremation should emphasize that the cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the corporeal remains of a human body. This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition.
While cremated remains may be buried in a grave, entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium, or even buried at sea, the practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. The cremated remains of the body may be properly buried at sea in the urn, coffin, or other container in which they have been carried to the place of committal. (‘Cremation and Burial at Sea’) See www.usccb.org/liturgy/cremation.shtml.”
- Fr. Carl
Friday, October 28, 2011
Calling all Fathers
Dear Parishioners,
“Call no man on earth your father.” This verse from today’s Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12), is sometimes used by a few of our Protestant brothers to criticize our custom of calling our priests “Father.” However, that text should be read in the proper way. Otherwise, what do we call our paternal parent? It certainly would not be respectful to call him by his first name. What Jesus is talking about is pride and trying to impress others through position, knowledge, and acting as a person of importance or holiness by assuming a title. We also might remember that St. Paul in his letters referred to himself as a father to some of the churches he visited (1 Cor. 4:14–15). It is hardly likely that he would have gone against the will of Jesus by calling himself “father.” When we call our priests, “Father,” we acknowledge the roles they have in the church—to be good fathers leading, teaching, protecting, and feeding their spiritual children with the Word of God and the Eucharist.
In recent years, some have betrayed their trust and hurt their children. It is a terrible tragedy. Still the vast majority have served their spiritual children well. Let us pray that more young men will respond to our Heavenly Father’s call to the priesthood and serve as spiritual fathers to his family on earth.
- Fr. Carl
“Call no man on earth your father.” This verse from today’s Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12), is sometimes used by a few of our Protestant brothers to criticize our custom of calling our priests “Father.” However, that text should be read in the proper way. Otherwise, what do we call our paternal parent? It certainly would not be respectful to call him by his first name. What Jesus is talking about is pride and trying to impress others through position, knowledge, and acting as a person of importance or holiness by assuming a title. We also might remember that St. Paul in his letters referred to himself as a father to some of the churches he visited (1 Cor. 4:14–15). It is hardly likely that he would have gone against the will of Jesus by calling himself “father.” When we call our priests, “Father,” we acknowledge the roles they have in the church—to be good fathers leading, teaching, protecting, and feeding their spiritual children with the Word of God and the Eucharist.
In recent years, some have betrayed their trust and hurt their children. It is a terrible tragedy. Still the vast majority have served their spiritual children well. Let us pray that more young men will respond to our Heavenly Father’s call to the priesthood and serve as spiritual fathers to his family on earth.
- Fr. Carl
Friday, October 21, 2011
What is the greatest commandment?
Dear Parishioners,
What is the greatest commandment? Is it really something we believe or think or defend as if our life depended on it? Does our world really need another verbal defense of the Christian faith? The greatest commandment as our Lord taught (Matthew 22:34-40) and lived is always waiting to be awakened in the likes of you and me. All our professed love for God is empty rhetoric without actions, labors of love that say the God we love is the One who changed, and is changing our lives. This week, let’s labor in love together. Let’s refuse the fist and choose reconciliation. Let’s walk away from defending our faith and walk toward living it. Let’s love as Jesus loved, define ourselves, and perhaps others, what it means to follow Jesus.
- Deacon Robert
What is the greatest commandment? Is it really something we believe or think or defend as if our life depended on it? Does our world really need another verbal defense of the Christian faith? The greatest commandment as our Lord taught (Matthew 22:34-40) and lived is always waiting to be awakened in the likes of you and me. All our professed love for God is empty rhetoric without actions, labors of love that say the God we love is the One who changed, and is changing our lives. This week, let’s labor in love together. Let’s refuse the fist and choose reconciliation. Let’s walk away from defending our faith and walk toward living it. Let’s love as Jesus loved, define ourselves, and perhaps others, what it means to follow Jesus.
- Deacon Robert
“Make a note of the difference there is
between believing in the existence of
God and believing in Him.”
- The Cure D’Ars
Friday, October 14, 2011
Where does your loyalty lie?
Dear Parishioners,
In today’s gospel (Matthew 22: 15-21), Jesus is put in an impossible situation by two opposing groups, both of whom are against Him. The question is whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not. An affirmative answer will alienate Jesus from the Jews; a negative answer will alienate Jesus from the Romans. Jesus masterfully evades the trap by saying, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” However, sometimes there is no way to avoid trouble as St. Thomas More discovered. He was the chancellor of England when Henry VIII divorced his wife and remarried, even though the Church would not grant him an annulment. Loyal to the king, he never condemned Henry; but loyal to the Church, he never gave his approval. Even though he was pressured and all the other bishops except St. John Fisher caved in and gave their approval, St. Thomas remained steadfastly loyal to the Church. Because of this, he was sentenced to death. As he stood on the scaffold awaiting execution, his last words were, “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.” He was loyal to his King as long as possible, but his ultimate loyalty was with God. May we always be the same, and may our Catholic politicians look to God for guidance on moral issues rather than party loyalty or voter support and approval.
In today’s gospel (Matthew 22: 15-21), Jesus is put in an impossible situation by two opposing groups, both of whom are against Him. The question is whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not. An affirmative answer will alienate Jesus from the Jews; a negative answer will alienate Jesus from the Romans. Jesus masterfully evades the trap by saying, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” However, sometimes there is no way to avoid trouble as St. Thomas More discovered. He was the chancellor of England when Henry VIII divorced his wife and remarried, even though the Church would not grant him an annulment. Loyal to the king, he never condemned Henry; but loyal to the Church, he never gave his approval. Even though he was pressured and all the other bishops except St. John Fisher caved in and gave their approval, St. Thomas remained steadfastly loyal to the Church. Because of this, he was sentenced to death. As he stood on the scaffold awaiting execution, his last words were, “I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first.” He was loyal to his King as long as possible, but his ultimate loyalty was with God. May we always be the same, and may our Catholic politicians look to God for guidance on moral issues rather than party loyalty or voter support and approval.
Friday, October 7, 2011
You’re Invited!
Dear Parishioners,
God is hosting a wedding for His Beloved Son. We can never earn our place on God’s invitation list; it’s just that God is generous. For it is a profound truth of the gospel, that God is continually extending an invitation to the event of a lifetime and beyond. It is an offer that no one in their right mind should refuse or put off. But it is an invitation that waits for a response. We, all of us, are invited. Please RSVP… and remember, wear white.
- Deacon Robert
God is hosting a wedding for His Beloved Son. We can never earn our place on God’s invitation list; it’s just that God is generous. For it is a profound truth of the gospel, that God is continually extending an invitation to the event of a lifetime and beyond. It is an offer that no one in their right mind should refuse or put off. But it is an invitation that waits for a response. We, all of us, are invited. Please RSVP… and remember, wear white.
- Deacon Robert
“Since we are only in the world for God
himself, we shall never be happy if we do not
serve him with zeal and love.”
- The Saint Cure D’Ars
Friday, September 30, 2011
Now it’s up to you
Dear Parishioners,
Our heavenly Father is like a good, hard working Father, and we are the crop he hopes to harvest. He has spared no effort or expense to make us fruitful and good. He has planted the seed of faith in our hearts, watered us in Baptism, nourished us in the Eucharist, and spaded the earth around us in the sacrament of Penance. He has spared no effort or expense and can do no more. The rest is up to us. Let us pray for the grace to use these gifts wisely so as to bear good fruit by living holy lives.
- Fr. Carl
Our heavenly Father is like a good, hard working Father, and we are the crop he hopes to harvest. He has spared no effort or expense to make us fruitful and good. He has planted the seed of faith in our hearts, watered us in Baptism, nourished us in the Eucharist, and spaded the earth around us in the sacrament of Penance. He has spared no effort or expense and can do no more. The rest is up to us. Let us pray for the grace to use these gifts wisely so as to bear good fruit by living holy lives.
- Fr. Carl
“We are each of us like a small mirror in which
God searches for his reflection.”
- The Saint Cure D’Ars
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